My employer won’t let me use or see the accident book, what should I do?

When someone is injured in an accident at work, employers have certain responsibilities that they are obliged to follow. One of these requirements is to ensure that details of any incident, no matter how minor, are recorded within an accident book or accident recording system. In cases of serious injuries, the employer also has a responsibility to report the accident via RIDDOR to the Health and Safety Executive. All accidents at work must be reported to RIDDOR where the injured employee is caused to be away from work, or left unable to work as normal, for seven consecutive days or more because of the injuries that they have sustained. The report must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Good employers

The vast majority of employers care about their staff and site visitors. Good employers take health and safety regulations seriously, don’t try to get in the way of people being treated fairly and provide a safe working environment to their staff. They will carry out regular safety training for their staff, and one of the things that they should do is make sure that all staff understand how to record the details of any accidents within the employers accident book.

Bad employers

Unfortunately, there remains some less impressive employers out there who treat staff as a disposable asset and fail to uphold their duty of care towards health and safety at work. Remember, employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that all workers have a safe and secure working environment where the risks of injury are avoided as much as possible.

Bad employers will avoid safety training, cut corners with regards to providing the right tools, expect workers to use dangerous machinery that is not maintained, and unsurprisingly don’t provide accident books. In the worst cases, really bad employers will even refuse to acknowledge that any accidents have happened in their workplace. If this has happened to you, we suggest that you contact us immediately. In these circumstances you need expert advice and support. You can still succeed with a claim against such an employer, but it will be important to move quickly to ensure that the strength of any claim you may wish to make is not unduly affected.

Get witnesses: You can ask colleagues and co-workers if they would be willing to act as witnesses. Whilst this is obviously a difficult thing for them to do, we’ve found that many people who are sick of the employer neglecting their safety at work are more than willing to help.

Take photographs: You can take photographs of hazards at work, such as faulty machinery or inadequate work practices.

Send a recorded delivery letter: Another good thing to do is to send a letter to the registered office of the workplace listing what happened to you, the date, the cause and the injuries. Send this letter by recorded, signed for mail and retain a copy of the letter and your receipt and proof of postage.

Find a specialist solicitor: You can then provide all this to your solicitor to help them succeed with your claim for personal injury compensation.

It is important that an injured employee is aware of what they should do next after a work-related injury. Some things will be obvious, such as getting medical treatment, but many people don’t know their rights after an accident at work, or what they should do to make sure that the incident is properly recorded and that the right people have been informed.

It is never unethical to pursue a genuine claim for personal injury compensation, especially when you are dealing with bad employers who fail to act ethically and responsibly. Health and safety is vital in the workplace and by making a claim after an accident at work, you could be helping to make sure that the employers change their ways and that colleagues don’t suffer the same fate.

About Ian Morris

I've been involved in the management of personal injury claims for nearly 20 years. Outside of work, I'm married with 2 beautiful daughters. I love surfing, snowboarding and spending time with my family. You can find me on Twitter.

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Questions & Answers

Wojciech 4th June 2020 at 10:54 pm

Hello. I am from UK. Last year in June I have an accident at my work,I am waiter. I have slipped on the floor because there was a stain of water or sauce. My manger did complete nothing to even help me when I hit my head on the floor. After few hours she asked me to check if she write down my Name and address correctly in accident report. After shift finished I went to Emergency as I have experience pain at the back of my head. Scans are normal. However doctor have said that one of the muscle are damaged. Since then I cannot sleep and experience headache. Also i am on medication for pain and insomnia. What should I do? Thank you.

I am on a temporary contract stacking shelves over night. 2 nights ago I felt a sharp pain in my stomach but carried on working because we were busy and short staffed, the next day the pain worsened and over night (on my day off) it became excruciating, I went into a&e 24 hours after the accident and the doctors narrowed it down to an abdominaI tear, I’ve messaged my line manager to record it in the accident book but he tells me “it’s too late”, I’ve had no safe handling training and potentially looking at a lot of time off work to recover. Can I claim?

Please call us immediately on 01225430285 as you would appear to have both a strong and valid claim for personal injury compensation. The failure of your employer to provide you with safe lifting and moving (manual handling) training is negligent on their part and whether or not you are a permanent or temporary staff member, your employer is obliged to ensure that you are afforded appropriate training and a working environment that minimises the risk of injury. That has clearly not been the case in this situation.

If you would rather we called you just provide your number and we’ll be in touch.

I had an accident at work at the beginning of March 2020. I tripped over rubbish that was lying around in the store room. The rubbish was left to pile up and become hazardous, as my boss didn’t have correct means of rubbish disposal. I have since been in pain with my hip and have not yet sought any medical examination. I thought after the accident that once the pain and bruising had gone, that I would be ok. I rang the gp surgery when I realised that my injuries were ongoing. Due to the pandemic, a physical examination has not been possible. I reported the accident to my boss on the day it happened and he just laughed. There is no accident book and no witnesses other than cctv which he will have disposed of. I took photos of the place where it happened. Have kept voice notes of how the accident has impacted my health and also have photos of the bruising sustained. As soon as is possible I am seeking medical attention to find out what injury I have actually sustained. Is there grounds for a claim?

My initial view is that you do have a valid claim against your employer for the injuries you have sustained. The evidence you have obtained in terms of photographs and voice notes could well be important and would help our Solicitors in pursuing your claim.

Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can learn more and begin the process of helping you to understand your rights as an injured employee and start the claims process for you. If you would prefer that we call you, just let us know when you would like us to call you and we’ll be in touch.

As the accident happened last year, you are within the claim limitation period, so you should call us on 01225430285 or ask us to call you because you can still pursue a claim for compensation. In terms of obtaining the accident date, there are various ways of doing that. You could try contacting your former employer to ask them, but they are unlikely to divulge that information to you – especially over the phone. If you know any former colleagues who still work at the same store, you could ask them if they could find out from the accident book. Alternatively, did you attend Hospital or see your GP shortly after the injury was sustained? If so, your medical records will give a date of treatment that could then be linked to the accident.

Give us a call so that we can discuss this with you more and offer further help.

I tripped & fell over straying wires in my work place in front of my assistant manager & work colleague, when i’ve asked for it to be put in the accident book i was told to wait until my colleague/witness was back at work as i could’nt remember the actual date so have requested to see the rota from that time but it has fell on deaf ears, i have since had back pain through falling but management have not responded in any way

You certainly have a valid right to make a claim for compensation against your employers insurance. This is something we can help you with on a No Win No Fee basis. To find out more about the claims process and understand your rights, please call us on 01225432085.

Loose wires are a foreseeable risk as a tripping hazard and the employer should not have allowed them to be that way. Indeed, wires should be kept within trunking or carefully kept out of the way of any walking area. As this had not happened in your work place, we envisage that you would likely succeed should you pursue a claim.

In terms of reporting the incident and the attempts you have made to get the employer to record the details of your accident at work in their accident book, make sure that you put something in writing regarding your attempts. Perhaps email your boss regarding the incident instead of relying on verbal reporting and chasing.

I experienced an accident at work which ended with a week in hospital and 4 months off work. I want my employer to provide me with the accident report or the protocol that my employer took on the day of my accident but they are refusing to provide me with this information. What should I do?

In the UK, employers are not obliged to provide you with a copy of an accident book report. Whilst there is no reason for them not to do so, as they don’t have to, many won’t.

Given the apparent severity of your injury given the week in Hospital and 4 weeks away from work, the sensible move would be to start a claim for compensation against the employer. Our specialist Solicitors are experts in handling accident at work compensation claims. With the use of the legal framework surrounding personal injury compensation, our Solicitors would be able to access details of the accident report and protocols employed by the company in their efforts of securing compensation for your injuries and any loss of income you may have sustained.

Please call our team – we’re ready to help you and can explain your rights, the claims process and help you start your claim for compensation.

You can only be dismissed for gross misconduct if you are guilty of gross misconduct. Therefore, in your situation if you caused the accident that lead to your injuries by failing to follow company procedure or training provided that could be seen as an act of gross misconduct. However, if you did not cause the accident or have not acted in a manner of gross misconduct, you cannot be dismissed.

It is also worth noting that you cannot be dismissed for making a claim for personal injury compensation so long as you are acting honestly in any claim you pursue.

I recently started a new job for a large retail company. It is a 8 hour shift over night stacking shelves. On my first night i was told i would be stacking the chilled items in the fridges where this asile was very cold. I asked for a uniform but was not provided with one. I had to wear my own coat. I also asked for gloves to protect my hands from the cold and from cutting myself as i was using a cutter. I was again told they had none. I woke the next day feeling unwell from being so cold for 8 hours and also sore hands from where they were so cut. Do they not have a rule where they have to provide PPE? Thanks.

All workers should be issued with the correct PPE. In your situation, you need to make the employer aware that you have not had the required provisions but you must do so in writing. If they then fail to provide you with the PPE and you sustain injury, you could pursue a claim for personal injury compensation with our specialist Solicitors.

I had a slip/fall on grease/airlines across a works pathway hitting my knee and LH hip. Area was photographed/recorded in accident book and are was reworked to make safe 1 month after. I had a week off work which coincided with my birthday and new years/family life that i missed as i could not get around much due to pain. Would there be any claim and would it be wiser to go via small claims ?

Our initial view is that there is certainly the potential for pursuing a claim for personal injury compensation against your employers insurance. Whilst you may wish to claim directly to the insurers without legal representation (and you are able to do so), we would strongly recommend that you instruct a specialist Solicitor to act for you. Having the back up of a specialist Solicitor and their expertise and advice will ensure that your claim is properly pursued and that if successful, an appropriate compensation settlement is obtained. Whilst it is possible and legitimate to represent yourself, there is always the risk that you may not be able to uphold your legal rights or know whether to accept an insurers offer to settle the claim.

If you would like further help with your claim, please contact us on 01225430285.

If an employee is carrying out cleaning duties and is caused a back injury by moving a heavy object, in the correct manner, and reports her injury to the proprietor of the business and she does not offer to put this injury in the accident book ( not sure that there is one ) what are her legal rights? Her injury is a spinal injury and has been seen by her GP and given medication for pain relief, this not working was then referred to Physiotherapist who could not provide a solution, referred back to her GP and subsequently referred to a spinal specialist who performs a procedure which also does not work and requires more procedures. What advice can you give? Her injury was sustained in February 2019 and treatment is still on going with her next procedure in March 2020.

There is certainly a potential for the injured employee to pursue a claim against the employer. If the employer has not properly risk assessed the work that they are asking their staff member to perform, or if they have not provided adequate training and guidance, the employer will be liable for any injuries and losses caused.

The lack of an accident book at work is a concern, but that is not the injured employee’s fault. In such cases, we strongly recommend making a written report to the employer regarding the accident (by email) and sending it to both the supervisor, line manager and HR department.

I became trapped in a confined space after one of my employers contractors fitted a mechanical lock incorrectly. After about 30 minutes of trying to escape I suffered a major panic attack. I sent a written statement to my employer to enter in the accident book which gave details of the incident. Having now seen what they have actually written in the accident book it bares little resemblance to my actual statement? They have recorded my injuries but everything else has been worded to downplay the incident. It appears that no one knew about my injuries as my employer had decided to keep it quiet? My employers have their own in house Health and Safety team but they were not made aware of the incident? My employer initially tried to tell me that there was nothing wrong with the lock, when I disputed this they then had all the evidence removed? They apparently completed an accident investigation but no one seems to be able to find it? The entire thing stinks of a cover up and my employer is refusing to release any more details about the incident? The incident was not reported to HSE despite me being off work for 9 months due to my injuries?My employer changed my statement in the accident book without my knowledge or agreement? I strongly believe my employer removed all the evidence in order to protect the reputation of the contractor who had just won a major contract with my employer. Where do I stand legally as I have photographic and medical evidence about the incident?

Have you already made a claim or spoken with a specialist personal injury Solicitor? If not, please make further contact with us by way of our ‘start a claim‘ page so that we can help you in this process.

Regarding the apparent falsification of the reporting of the incident and lack of report to the Health and Safety authorities, you may want to contact the HSE personally to discuss that issue with them.

Hurt back on site but did not record it in accident book. My employer on the following Monday was informed I was suffering from bad back so I was un able to work. So today I asked about weather or not I should be receiving sick pay my agency told me I was un able to claim as it wasn’t recorded on site. Dose RIDDOR act made by h.s.e stand in this case?

RIDDOR regulations apply to ALL accidents at work. However, as you have not reported the injury in the work accident book, it means that the employer may not accept that your injuries were caused at work and may therefore not report the incident.

If you believe that an organisation or business has made a false report of an accident or incident at work, you should do two things. You should write to the employer/company to advise of the inaccuracies in their report, provide correct information and request that they amend their report. You should also contact your local Health and Safety Executive office and report the misleading/false report to them.

Hi had an injury at work last week and hurt my leg still suffering a week later , I’ve been to the doctors and hospital and luckily it’s not broken just sprained badly. My supervisor has informed me he has filled in the accident form of what happened and signed it . I have never come across this before as I always it came down to the individual it happened to for them to write down what had happened . But he refuses to let me see a copy of what’s put he said it’s in the accident book and I don’t need to know. I just wanted to know where I stand , thankyou

The employer doesn’t have to allow you to view the accident record that has been made. We would recommend that you make a formal written note to the employer advising that you have not seen the accident book report, you did not complete it and you have no way of knowing whether or not the report is accurate, honest and correct.

I am an agency TA within an independent behavioural school. I am not trained in their intervention s techniques. I had no alternative than to help restrain a refractory pupil. I broke my wrist scaphoid in the process. I am now absent from work due to the injury. I wish to complete an accident / injury form. The employer will not post or email the relevant form to my home address. Stating they cannot do this. They have also informed me that they can use the witness and incident form raised by another member of staff as the basis for the recording of the accident / injury therefore there is no requirement for me to complete an accident / injury form is this correct ?… I still wish to complete the relevant form regardless .

If their policy is to not send the forms outside of the school, then that is their policy. However, we would be very wary of allowing them to make a record of the incident without allowing you to contribute to the record and allowing you to read the report before it is signed off as an accurate report.

I trapped my hand in a machine at work it was trapped between a pallet and a guard rail. I followed company procedures to free the blockage in the machine. I reported the incident and attended hospital for my injury. My work place will not show me the accident report and are saying it has not been completed, the accident was over a month ago. I was off work for 10 days the question I need answering is. 1 – should this accident have been reported to RIDDOR and the HSE? 2 – what time frame does my employer have to fill in the accident report and do I have a right to see it? Thanks in advance.

It would appear that the injury you sustained should have been reported to RIDDOR as you were off work for 10 days.

As for the accident report, there is no legal requirement for your employer to show you a copy of their report. The best advise is to write a statement of your own regarding the incident in which you were injured, listing when, where and how the incident happened. What training you had received and whether any issues relevant to the incident had been discussed before or since it happened and send that to your employer and ask them to add it to their report of the incident.

My wife works as a school taxi driver. She had an accident Thursday 21/11 in the car with minimal damage to the car. Her employer isn’t claiming via their insurance and is paying to repair the car. She has sustained a neck/back injury and been seen by the doctor. She hasn’t completed any paperwork for her company and hasn’t been told if she needs to or not. What can she do if she has to have time off as it hurts to drive? Is she entitled to be paid, sick pay etc? Does she need to insist on completing an accident at work form? Could she claim via their car insurance for loss of earnings if she has to take time off?

Your wife’s employers should certainly have completed an accident report form, noting the details of the incident and any injuries sustained. Should your wife remain in a state of pain and discomfort to the point where she has to take leave from work and does not receive pay, her only route to recover loss of income would be by making a claim for personal injury compensation against the insurance of the vehicle in which she was injured (providing she was the non-fault party) or from her employers employer liability insurance cover.

There is no legal requirement to pay sick pay if an employee is off work through injury or illness – even if the injury or illness was caused whilst at work. Whether or not your wife would receive sick pay will depend on her contractual rights. Otherwise, she will receive SSP – if she is entitled to it.

If your wife’s employers won’t allow her to complete an incident report, she should email her line manager regarding their refusal and make her own report in that correspondence.

We would be happy to assist with any claim should she opt to pursue such action. Your wife can call us for help on 01225430285 or use our ‘start a claim‘ service to make further contact.

For a good couple months I’ve been telling my employer (my manager and deputy manager) about the floor I’ve been standing on and the problems it is causing me. The floor is sloped and standing on it all day has been giving my back trouble.

2 weeks ago I pulled my vertebrae to the right in my back as I was near end of the shift. I swapped places with colleague to make it easier for the rest of the day. I attended work again the following day and had intense pain so had to go home. I then had the next week off and a few days the week after too (a total of 7 days in all). I’ve now gone back to work and they wont let me put it in the accident book. The health and safety manager has said to me that by law I cannot put it in the accident book as I didn’t the ‘injury’ to a first aider. Is this true?

I’ve been to a chiropractor and they have said the uneven surface i’m stood on is likely the reason my back went and me working in the one place day in day out wont help either. Please get back to me, I feel kind of lost on what to do!

I just want to be covered as I have little money and if I need more time off, I cant pay my rent. Thanks.

The scenario you describe is a tricky one in terms of being certain (or uncertain!) as to whether or not you have grounds to make a claim against your employer. You mention that you pulled your back whilst working. Clearly, standing on a sloping floor is far from ideal, but what is the nature of your work? Have your employers provided manual handling training?

It would be wise to ensure that you make a written ‘complaint’ to your employer about the working environment and the sloping floor. You should cite your injury and the thoughts of the chiropractor you have seen. We would also recommend that you attend your GP to discuss the injury and have your symptoms noted on your medical records.

If your employer fails to take any action after receiving your written report of the issues with the floor and you go on to develop further symptoms, there will be a paper trail of evidence to support a possible claim for personal injury compensation and you could contact us at that point to start a claim for compensation.

As for the ‘law’ that the Health and Safety manager is attempting to cite in refusing you the right to record the injury at work in their accident book, we have absolutely no idea what they are talking about (and neither do they!).

Hi, I was exposed to asbestos at work!. I cut through a ceiling only to find and expose myself to old artex. It turns out the original incorrect testing procedure was done, as the test never went all the way through the ceiling. It was then tested properly and turns out the hidden artex has asbestos in it. It could of been avoided with the correct test in the first place.

It happened a month ago. My employer did not report it to RIDDOR. I’ve only just found this out and also that they have not reported it in the accident book.

How will this affect my position of claiming from them for an asbestos related disease should the worst happen many years down the line.?

Had an accident in my work place on my lunch break in a cafe the public also use. This is a Hospital where there are soft settees where you can relax and have your break, also table and chairs. Where I went through a settee which was faulty and injured my back, reported this to manager, as did not know this was still in cafe as furniture has been moved around as it was common knowledge there was a broken one. Which caused me to go off on sick for 5 weeks with doctor’s sick notes. Went back to work on reduced hours which my doctor advised as did 12 hour shifts, did two weeks of half shifts 6 hours. Then reduced hours for a further 4 weeks which takes me up to first week in december. Have asked to see the accident book 3/4 times through my supervisor which has done this for me, she is getting the run around and no answers. Then I was taken for a disciplinary for taken this time off by HR who would not discuss with me that due to my accident at work this was why I was off due to no fault of my own. Insisted because I had been off in July and then accident in September when I injured myself that was all she was interested in was the time off. She would not let me speak for my self kept talking over me, I was very upset and distressed and being treated like this, as I am still in pain and feel humiliated, this is a bad company to work for, as am a very good worker and start my work one hour early without pay, I love my job. But am being badly treated.

The actions of your employer in terms of their decision to take you through the disciplinary process may be unkind and have added un-needed stress to your situation. However, it is irrelevant in terms of your right to make a claim for personal injury compensation for the injury to your back.

Indeed, the cause of your injury – the faulty/broken setee – would indicate that you have a valid claim with our initial view being that our Solicitors would likely wish to pursue your claim and would do so with the realistic prospects of succeeding. It would appear that the employer was aware of the broken setee and as such, they are likely to have to accept liability. As they knew that the setee was faulty, it should have been withdrawn from use and their failure to do that has exposed you to the risk of injury.

We would be happy to help you pursue a claim for compensation in this matter. Please call our team for help on 01225430285 or you can ask us to call you if you prefer.

Hi, I fractured the talus of my right foot at work because I was expected to stand inside the dry recycling bin if it was overflowing and the rubbish to such an extent as the lid closed again. This is obviously against H&S policies but I am only 19 and this was only my second part time job. I didn’t have the confidence to say I didn’t want to do it because it wasn’t a safe practice.

On the day the accident happened, I wasn’t specifically asked to ‘stand on the dry recycling because it is overflowing and needs to be compressed’. As I had been there a few months, it had become part of the routine I was expected to undertake as part of ‘checking the bins’. This routine was: I would take out the bottle bin for emptying, I would check the bin area for waste fallen out of the bin bags (including food waste) and put it back in the relevant bin and finally, if the dry recycling bin was overflowing, I would lift the lid and stand on the rubbish inside to compress it.

My question is, if I wasn’t specifically asked to do it on that day (although my employer has since acknowledged to Environmental Health that they had previously asked me to do so), does that impact my claim and if so, how?

Our initial view is that it doesn’t impact on your claim and given the nature of your injury and the working practices that you were initially told to perform and then performed as normal, it would seem that you have a valid and completely justified claim.

We would be happy to help you in the process of claiming compensation for your injury and feel that your claim is one that our specialist Solicitors are well qualified to pursue. Please call us on 01225430285 to find out more about our service and how we can help you. Alternative, if you would prefer us to call you simply let us know when you would like to hear from us and our team will be in touch to help you.

Hi I had a RSI injury through work (I believe). My boss says he won’t put it in the accident book as Monday-Friday I never mentioned it, only on the Sunday did you have an issue, so we don’t know what you did on the Saturday? My issue is I had to work on a part of a machine that normally we rotate 4hrs each or 1 day a piece. I worked Monday-Friday as we had a new starter, who I was told couldn’t do the end I was on. My Wrist only started to ache on Sunday, escalating to extremes of pain, where I was hospitalised with high blood pressure & temperature due to the pain! I have been off work 4wks I don’t get paid for being off, so we’re do I stand?

My wife slipped at work & nastily smashed her ankle 6 weeks ago & has just been signed off for a further 6 weeks. On full pay for up to 6 months, she is very committed to her role at uni/ NHS facility, she is/was also the H&S person in her department. Her boss completed the accident system. Despite several requests to view the report, pushed by me, her husband, the request has not yet been actioned. Whilst she says the fall was down to her feeling unwell, my view is that she shouldn’t be, from my layman’s perspective, accepting 100% of the responsibility. She could have slipped on a wet floor, as the fall occurred in the ladies? Her mobility is likely to be permanently affected & it’s not inconceivable that she may not be able to return to the work role, as it involves a lot of walking between lab tops & other departments. I am possibly being somewhat cynical, but am becoming annoyed that a perfectly reasonable request is being ignored or similar. Your views please.

Whilst the employer is legally within their rights to refuse to disclose a copy of the accident report, there is no reason for them not to allow your wife to view the report. If you have not already done so, it may be a sensible move to request to view the report in writing, stating that your wife wishes to confirm that it is an accurate report of the incident.

With regards to pursuing a claim for compensation, a claim will not succeed on supposition. In your comment you say she may have slipped on a wet floor. Whilst this is a distinct possibility, there is no evidence available to confirm this and as such, it would appear that any possible route to a successful claim ends as a result.

It would seem that your wife is of the view that she simply fell due to fatigue or ill health. Therefore unless any colleagues have noted that the floor was wet with no hazard signs (or have noted any other slip hazard for that matter), we can’t see how she can pursue a claim as things stand.

Within the UK, any person injured in a non-fault accident has a right to make a claim for personal injury compensation. The time frame for making a claim is a maximum period of 3 years from the date of the accident. Therefore, in the scenario you describe, you still have a further period of 2 years to make your claim. With that in mind, whilst you still have plenty of time, it would be wise to start the claims process now and avoid further delay. Please call us on 01225430285 or let us know when we can call you.

Your employer should have an accident book and they should be ensuring that accidents at work are recorded correctly. Given the lack of the accident book, you can do two things.

Firstly, you should write your own report of the accident at work and your injuries. You should list what happened and when, who saw it (if anyone) and what injuries you have sustained. You should then send a copy to your Manager and retain a copy for your own records.

Secondly, you could report the employer and their lack of an accident book to the Health and Safety Executive and ask for their observations on this issue.

With specific regard to your accident at work, it would seem that you may have valid grounds to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation. Before we could advise further, we would need to know more about your accident and find out where the roll of carbon fibre fabric was and how you came to trip over it.

If you would like to further discuss your accident with us in order that we can help you to understand whether or not you could make a claim against your employer for any injuries and losses caused by this accident, please call our team on 01225430285 or ask us to call you if you prefer.

a year ago i was lifting a heavy piece of machinery off a van, i injured my back and was left unable to move/speak and had difficulty breathing. After half an hour i was able under great difficulty able to drive my van back to the yard where i verbally told my manager about the accident. I was met with a lot of abuse , and made to feel like i was a hindrance. I went home immediately and managed to get myself to the doctors for pain relief but spent majority of next couple weeks in bed unable to operate properly. The accident book was never filled in by my manager and when i came back to work i was told it was too late. a year down the line i’m still having alot of problems, and feel im going to have to give my career up. I’ve been refereed to a specialist since then and i’ve requested that it goes into the accident book as i have a witness willing to back me up. My company are making it very hard for me at the minute and not being as helpful as i thought they would….can you please tell me where i stand?

Your employer has not acted correctly in refusing to make a record of your injury at work and by their subsequent further refusals to note the details of your injury.

As you have a witness willing to corroborate any statement you may make with regards to the nature of your injury and the incident. If you have not already done so, we would certainly recommend that you make your own written report, noting the date, time and the location of the incident as well as a description of what you were doing and the injury you sustained. You should then send the same to your employer both electronically and by recorded delivery, retaining proof of postage.

In your case, if your injury was caused through a lack of adequate manual handling training, or by your employers failure to provide you with the right equipment or support to enable you to work safely, you could pursue a claim for personal injury compensation against the employers insurance on the grounds of employer negligence.

You may be unsure as to whether or not your employer has been negligent in terms of the cause of your accident or indeed, whether or not you wish to pursue a claim. With this in mind, it may be prudent for you to discuss your situation in more detail with our specialist Solicitors in order that you can ascertain where you stand legally and what options you have. If it were felt that you have a valid claim for compensation, our specialist Solicitors would pursue the claim for you on a No Win No Fee basis – meaning you would not be at risk of costs if your claim were to fail and that if you were to succeed, any compensation awarded to you would be subjected to a maximum deduction of 25% of the total award.

We would like to help you further understand your rights and assist you in looking in to making a claim for compensation. If you would like our help in this process, please call us on 01225430285 or let us know when you would like us to call you and our team will gladly assist you.

There is no hard and fast rule to the way an accident book entry is recorded. Best practice would be for the record to be made in conjunction with the injured party to ensure that they are happy that the written accident book entry correctly represents the incident in which they were injured. It would also be sensible for the injured employee to sign the report to confirm that they are happy with the accident report.

You can ask your employer for a copy of the accident book, but they are not obliged to provide you with the same. The most sensible course of action would be to make a request in writing.

You mention what would appear to be a serious injury to your hand at work, caused by an act of negligence. As such, we would like to speak with you further and help you make a claim for compensation. Injuries to the fingers are known to have serious implications to the injured person and for such injuries to greatly impair ones independence and ability to live a ‘normal’ life during recovery. As such, successful claims can see settlement values of a substantial nature.

Ask us to contact you at a time that suits you and we’ll help you pursue your claim.

My boss has just got me to sign the riddor accident form but i think the information is wrong on there. Does this matter? I fell off a folding aluminium platform 3 step hop up stool ladder. My boss has put i fell off a step ladder and that i was on the top rung. But i think if its a hop up step i am allowed to stand on the top? I don’t know if i can make a claim or not as i was not looking when i fell. I have broken the radial head of my elbow. But have not took no time off, i am under the hospital. I wonder if you can give me some advise on this please?

You should ensure that the report is amended before you sign it – or amended afterwards if already signed – to reflect the correct information. There is clearly a difference between being stood on the top rung of a step ladder and being stood on the top of a hop up stool and having an incorrect record of this incident benefits no party, especially yourself.

You may have a right to make a claim for compensation. You are right in that you are able to stand on the top of a hop up stool. However, an employer should ensure that you are not asked to stand on one in a dangerous area – such as if it is on uneven or slippery ground, or if you are having to over-stretch to reach items.

A pallet truck at work got stuck under a loaded pallet due to some loose strapping underneath getting twisted around its wheels. I reached under to untangled the strapping and told a colleague to let the pallet down slowly so I could make sure it didn’t fall back into place around the wheels. The colleague dropped the pallet immediately to the ground and onto my hand. My employer is being dismissive of the accident & won’t record it in the accident book. I’ve been to hospital and had 2 x-rays this past week & they believe I have a crack along a bone in my hand. Is the accident my own fault for trying to untangle the strapping in the first place?

You have been injured in an accident at work and quite why your employer will not let you record the details in their accident book is beyond us! On this particular issue, you should make a written report of the incident and send a copy to your employer – by email or in writing – and retain a copy of the same for your own records.

Given the nature of the incident, we feel that you have a valid claim for compensation and would be well within your rights to pursue such action. Further, we would very much like to help you understand your rights after an accident at work and explain how we can help. Of course, we would be happy to help you pursue this claim. We need to speak with you about the incident to get the initial information and personal details so that we can pass this on to our specialist Solicitors. Please either call us on 01225430285 or ask us to call you at a time that suits so that we can help you with this matter.

I cut my hand cutting a cable tie at work. I was using scissors as the tie was so tightly closed a safety knife would not fit into it. My employer has, after over 3 weeks, completed an investigation, however they at no point have asked my version of what happened and an accident was not filled in with my input. Have they broken any rules?

The employer hasn’t necessarily broken any rules, but to complete an investigation without taking evidence from the person at the heart of the incident (you) does seem foolish! I would recommend that you make your own written report of the incident outlining what you were doing and why you used the scissors and how you were injured. You could make mention of having never been told not to use scissors etc if relevant.

You could be entitled to compensation if we can show that the employer was negligent. In this case, if the cable ties need to be removed, but no tool is provided to enable their safe removal, you could succeed.

You do not have a right to see the accident book. Whilst the Hotel is not obliged to show you a copy, there really is no reason for them not to do so.

In your case, you could possibly make a claim against the hotel for any injuries you sustained in the accident. Before we could advise you as to whether or not you can make a claim, we need to understand what happened and how you were injured. Please feel free to respond to my response to you and we can then advise you further.

We continually walk on rubble and rough surfaces to do our security patrols 4 times a day and it’s starting to affect some of us, ie knees, ankles, hips & lower back. For 6 months I’ve also been getting knee pains directly because of this. I’ve asked if I can put my details in the accident book, but our boss has hinted that because it’s a ‘repetitive strain’ it cannot be put in the accident book, and that there’s no proof that our issues are related to the terrain that we walk on daily. Can we put ‘repetitive strain’ in the accident book?

It is hard to put repetitive strain in the accident book as it is not a specific ‘one off’ incident or accident. However, you could make a written report and observation to your employer and complain about the uneven rubble covered surfaces upon which you are expected to work. Your employer is right in that there is not any evidence to demonstrate a causal link between the uneven surfaces and your symptoms at this time. With that in mind, it would be sensible to speak with your GP and discuss this matter to see what their observations are.

Hi there, I had an accident at work yesterday. I am working in a skip yard and my colleague was throwing an object into a big pile of rubbish and it hit my head. The head is split open and it had to be glued yesterday at A&E. They have not filled accident book, I am asking this now. However, I am afraid that I might loose my job if I start make a claim. I am self employed and majority of people are related to each other at that company so obviously everyone is covering each other backs. Where do I stand here? They have CCTV, however I don’t think incident it self was captured it’s only when I was walking to the office bleeding. Is there something I can do or is it not worth it as I do need my job?

Given the nature of your work, there is a reasonable argument to say that the employer has been negligent in the way that staff are working (throwing objects around) and lack of adequate personal protective equipment being provided.

You do have a right to make a claim and the employer cannot legally terminate your work or lower your rights as a result of making a claim. However, in the case of a small business with a close knit family unit involved, making a claim can be a difficult matter to negotiate.

You should make a report of your accident in the accident book and if you would like to make a claim, please call us or you can request that we call you at a time that suits you.

Your employer is not obliged to provide you with a copy of an accident report. Whether or not they will do so will depend on their own internal policy, but if you are going to request a copy of an accident book report, it is wise to do so in writing.

You do not need a copy of an accident book entry, but it is sensible to check what is recorded – so if the employer won’t let you have a copy to keep, do ask to see what information has been entered.

You have clearly had some sort of accident at work and you may have a right to make a claim for compensation as a result. If you would like to find out more about your rights in such a situation, or how to make a claim for compensation, please call us on 01225430285.

My brother had an accident at work which was no reported and recorded by his employer. He was not aware of health and safety procedure such as accident and/or incident at work. The camera is located in the production area where the incident have happened. I believe this was due to language barrier as the english is not his native language and he works trough agency. What we should do in this case? He is in uk for one month and still no signed to gp. His national number was claimed on 01 07 19 which he will get within 6 weeks. It’s a bit complicated. The concern is within the health and safety at work place and understanding of the correct procedure. Can you advice plz and/or provide number who to contact.

Whether or not your Brother has been here for 1 month or 10 years, he will be afforded the same legal protection as any other worker when it comes to health and safety at work and his right to claim compensation if he is injured as a result of the negligence of an employer.

As your Brother has not yet registered with a GP, he could call NHS 111 (non emergency) to discuss his injuries and they may well request him to attend at a Hospital for a check over. Alternatively, he could attend an NHS walk-in-clinic. If he is an EU citizen, he will be entitled to treatment. Regarding the accident at work and lack of training, there could well be a possible claim for compensation which we will discuss with you in more detail. In order to have the incident reported, he should contact his agency and send them an email outlining what happened at the workplace and how he was injured.

My employer tried to fill another accident form that wasn’t true reflection of actual event and injuries i received, and repeatedly insisted me to sign it, i refused to sign and this was taken quite seriously. The original form was filled by store immediately after the accident, and a copy was supplied to my employer where i based as a driver. I further was subjected to detriment by reduced sick pay, declining my rep in meetings. there is a-lot to add but i am dealing with the rest. Am i within my legal rights to challenge the conduct of my employer regarding filling another accident form that i was completely unhappy with ?

If anything has been recorded falsely or deliberately inaccurately, then of course you have every right to challenge that and seek a correction. The issue you will face is having the evidence to support your assertion of an incorrect record of an accident.

UK law does not oblige an accident book holder to provide copies of entries within the accident book to any person whose details are recorded within it. There is no reason why an employer or any other party should not provide you with a copy of the entry, but they do not have to do so.

How do I stand legally, if accident reported/recorded and cctv was directly on me yet employer says they do not have, as they were notified straight away, should they not have retained this? Otherwise surely all cowboy employers would not produce this as confirms their liability?

Do you have any witnesses or other evidence to support your assertion that the accident was reported immediately? If it is within the employers accident book, the fact that the employer cannot locate the CCTV footage should not prevent you from pursuing a claim.

My wife works as a casual staff and had an accident at Royal mail sorting office. Last Monday on her night shift she was on conveyor belt and sorting parcel, at almost end of her shift as heavy as 5kg parcel has fallen on her back as she bent down to pick up another that was on the floor, and was not even sure how the parcel has landed on her back and head, has report to the manager, did not provide any first-aid and not even bother to record on accident book, told her it would be fine and come back next shift. When she got back home, it was revealed that it was seriously bruised and swollen. she took some pain killer and went to bed. Following morning due to the severe shoulder pain and unable to move her arm, she went A&E, doctor seen her, arm was slung and given anti inflammatory tablets. In the mean time we have send an email on Wednesday to the recruiting agent and inform them about the incident. They replied us to claim SSP and it’s paid at £18.41 per day along with doctor medical note.

She went back Wednesday to Sorting centre (not to work) and request them for to record the incident and investigate, the two of shift managers and H&S officer refused to record on accident book until they investigate the incident, they’ve tried to twist the story and behaved strangely and turned her away without recording any thing, but they promised investigate and record the incident and will send the a copy to herself. She’s been to GP on Thursday and prescribed more anti- inflammatory pills given two weeks medical note. We wrote an mail again to the agent on Thursday to get in touch with Royal-mail management and H&S and request them to investigate the incident and provide a written report, and request them to provide us a chance to see the CCTV footage which is in operation 24/7. We heard nothing from neither of them so far, what would you suggest us to take the next step?

Given the nature of the incident and the efforts undertaken by you to date to get this matter reported and noted correctly by Royal Mail,the most sensible thing to do now would be to put this matter in the hands of us and our specialist Solicitors. We work on a No Win No Fee basis and would be happy to pursue this claim for compensation.

Please use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to provide your contact details to us. We can then call you to explain your wife’s rights in terms of a No Win No Fee claim for compensation and help get this matter resolved.

Hi! My name is Ahmed, I’m working in one Indian restaurant from one and half year, since I start I was asking for my payslip to be sure that my taxes are paid but I never had it, all the time they was giving me same excuses and promise me that they will do it, till last week I had a serious discussion with them about my right and my payslip and they sad that they don’t need me anymore. What can I do?

Unfortunately we cannot advise you here as this is not a personal injury issue, but relates to employment and tax law. The best course of action at this stage would likely be for you to discuss this with the Citizens Advice Bureau and bring it to the attention of your MP.

Hello I’m concerned about my wife she had an accident at work, her employer told her she would fill in the accident book and get my wife to sign it, that was the my wife heard about the accident book, she hasn’t seen the accident book let alone sign anything as confirmation this happened 3 weeks ago, is this legal

Clearly, there is a concern that the accident has either not been reported or not been reported correctly. There is no reason whatsoever to refuse an injured person the right to see what has been recorded within an accident book in order to confirm it is an accurate reflection of the incident. Given what you describe, the safest thing to do is write your own report of the accident outlining what happened, when it happened and where it happened. You should indicate any possible breaches of health and safety or negligence and send a copy to the employer (and retain a copy for yourself) advising that as you have not been able to confirm that a report has been made, you are making one to protect your interests.

It is important to make sure that the details of your injury/health problem at work is recorded correctly. To this end, you should ensure that an accident book report is completed and if that is not possible, record the details of your injury in writing and send a copy to your HR department and Line Manager.

i had an accident with my company in warehouse one year ago i slipped on the floor in the chiller on spillage ( water) as a caused of that i had twisted knee. the deputy manager recorded my accident but he did not let me to read the report and as well he was late to call SSE to tell them about my accident so the only thing i did was i took picture for sims incident reference. after one year my G.P sent me to do MRI because i had pain in my knee everyday after finish my work and also when i used the stairs. from all of that the MRI result was bad for me because i have meniscal cyst in my left knee and my G.P said to me i have to do the operation for my knee. i talked to my manager about it he said to me they don’t have my accident report so they lost it.

Best practice for the correct reporting and recording of accidents would be for the injured party to provide a statement of fact as to their version of events and for it to be placed in an accident book or incident reporting system. The injured party ought to be allowed the opportunity to sign their statement in order to confirm that they are happy with the contents of the report and it’s accuracy. However, there is no requirement for an accident book to be signed by the injured party.

Hi, I’ve had a fractured foot injury at work as my manager tried to lift a beer keg on top of the other keg and his hand slipped and it rolled straight on my foot. Everything happened so fast and I’ve gone to the hospital immediately, so my manager hasn’t refilled the accident book in front of me, and I haven’t seen the report at all. They said they have written a report they are only waiting for my signature. As I’m not able to go anywhere without help, would it be okay to ask them to send it via email to see if the details are right? The accident happened 9 days ago. Also, I’m thinking to make a claim as it was my managers fault and they only offered me SSP.

You can make a claim and you should do so. We would be very happy to act on this for you so please use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website or call us on 01225430285 to get things started.

With regards to the accident book, whether or not they will allow you sight of it by email is uncertain although you should ask for the same. In your email to them, you should indicate that you have not seen the report and are not willing to sign it until you have read it and confirmed that the details recorded are recorded correctly.

My partner has had 2 accidents at work within the last month, the first was a slip caused by oil leaking from a fryer which resulted in him banging his leg on a metal bar that left a huge bruise on his leg. The second was also a slip on oil spilt in the storage room which resulted in a bang to the head and a trip to hospital with potential concussion. Neither of these incidents were recorded in the accident book as the mangers present didn’t bring one to him and he was never shown it when he started there. Where does he stand going forwards as no one in charge has listened when he has reported concerns or incidents.

Your partner has two potential claims that we would be interested in pursuing should he wish to do so. Given the employers apparent lack of good health and safety management and their failure to properly report and record the details of the accident at work, it would be sensible to make a report to them of the two accidents in writing and hand it to the Manager of the business. Any report should state what happened and where and list the cause – in both cases spillages of oil on the floor of the workplace with no hazard signs.

I’ve had a fractured ankle injury at work where a fork lift has reversed into the back of my heel. My employer has had me sign an accident report but only will provide me a one page copy of the statement but I had signed several pages and secondly they won’t provide me a copy of the RIDDOR report which has been submitted to HSE by my employer. They’ve only provided me a copy of the post accident report which was taken at my home following day after the accident. Coul you please confirm if I’m entitled to the full reports from my employer. Thanks Barry.

Rather oddly, there is no requirement for your employer to provide you with a full copy of the entire report. Whilst there is no reason for them not to, they are not obliged to do so.

Clearly you have suffered a nasty injury to your ankle and the accident at work scenario you describe would give me an initial opinion that you have a valid claim for compensation. Should you wish to proceed with a claim, we would be very happy to do so and during the claims process, our specialist Solicitors would request a full copy of the accident report as well as details of anything reported to RIDDOR. If you would like to make a claim with us, please use our website ‘start a claim’ page or call us on 01225430285.

I’ve signed the accident book after having an accident not payed attention to what was worded and signed the form. I’ve taken a picture after for my benefit and realised then that it was worded wrongly. Am I entitled to see the form and ask for it to be re-worded to accurately report what actually happened?

The employer should be made aware at the earliest opportunity of any inaccuracies within an accident report in order that accurate and factually correct records are retained.

Clearly, in the immediate aftermath of an accident involving personal injury, the injured person is unlikely to be thinking clearly and able to think through various matters. As such, it is understandable that you may have signed something that didn’t properly record what had happened. Make sure your employers are made aware of this matter. If they are unwilling to amend the initial record of the accident within their accident book, write to them detailing what you see as being inaccurate and in need of amendment.

Following two different injuries over a period of seven months, I have now returned to work. 1) I cut my shin on a damage pallet, while stacking another. 2) In 2017, my old safety boots started to cut my foot, and following treatment by a podiatrist it was suggested I requested new safety footwear. Which I did several times to five different managers, without success. Then a foot ulcer developed and two months of unpaid sickness.

Since my return, I have requested details from my work accident book, in regards to both both incidents. Plus Health and Safety statements, which was taken during first aid treatment.

I had a accident at work, i am making a claim at the time but my solicitor as been in touch saying that they haven’t stated in the Accident book that the floor was wet at the time of my accident. I was shaken up right after the Accident when I had to sign and was told by my employer at the time that he would fill the rest in as I had really hurt my arm and shoulder, now my solicitor is say it could be a fraud claim if possible could you tell me what I can do?

Do you have any colleagues that witnessed your fall? Would anyone be able to confirm that the floor was wet and therefore slippery? I cannot see how you can be accused of making a fraudulent claim as there is clearly an accident book entry stating that you had a fall and were injured whilst at work.

If you are injured on the employers premises, it would not matter whether you were at work or had finished shift and were simply exiting the premises. UK Law would not oblige the employer to provide an accident report, although most good employers would not prevent access to the same.

Hi I had a slip trip and fall at work in December. The accident never got reported as manager won’t fill in an accident book. It has since left damage to me hip causing me pain every day. The manager then proceeed to take the mick in the following days after injury. I am off to the doctors as assumed it would be better now, only the bruising has gone. No accidents get reported even after someone got knocked on the head and fell from the force of it. Been to scared to seek advice due to issues with manager along with the rest of the team.

Under UK law, your Manager has no legal basis to refuse to make a record of the accident at work. Whilst you may not want to ‘rock the boat’, you should remember that you are in a very strong position legally with regards to requiring the manager to record the details of your (and any other) accident at work. You should put a report of your accident in writing to your employer. If they then fail to record the details of the accident, you could contact the Health & Safety Executive to report the employer on this issue.

With regards to your slip and fall at work in December, you could pursue a claim for hip injury compensation if the cause of your accident can be attributed to negligence. With that in mind, we would be happy to discuss your accident at work with you in order to help you identify whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation.

If you slipped due to the employer having failed to provide you with the safety shoes, it is likely that employer negligence will attach and you could well pursue a claim for compensation if the injury you have sustained is sufficiently severe. It is good that you have filled in an accident book record as this will provide good evidence of what happened.

On face value, it would appear that you have a valid claim for compensation further to your accident at work and as such, we suggest that you either call us on 01225430285 or use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to get further help with your claim.

I had an accident at work a few years ago. I am in constant pain, now off work. I have asked repeatedly for the dates from report book but the boss is ignoring my request. What can I do as I don’t know the dates?

If you sought medical attention from a GP or attended a Hospital as a result of your accident, you could speak to your GP to ask them what the date of your attendance and treatment was. If you can then demonstrate that the accident happened within the past 3 years, you could seek to make a claim for compensation.

Have you made a formal written request for the accident report and copied the same to the HR department and board of Directors?

Hi i had an accident at work were a steel bar hit me in the ribs due to my boss not getting something repaired. It was reported at least 3 times. I had to go to hospital ended up with a possible hair line crack on my ribs muscleskeletal damage aswel. This was all put in the accident book but has since been ripped out what should i do.

Your employers should not disrupt the recording of accidents or destroy any accident book records. The scenario you describe regarding your injury at work would indicate employer negligence and on face value, my initial view is that you have a strong claim against the employer given their obvious breach of health and safety in terms of not acting upon repeated reporting of a possible hazard.

Although the employer appears to have removed the report of your accident from their accident book, it should not stop you from pursuing a claim for compensation. Indeed, we would be very happy to assist with a claim in this matter. To this end, please either call us on 01225430285 or use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to take this further.

Hi I worked for a large company for just under 4 years, in that time I suffered a number of injuries including a broken nose, a badly injured shoulder for which I attended A&E. There are a number of other injuries, these were caused in part from lack of training and faulty equipment, I have left the company and requested details of all the injuries but so far they have not provided them, I believe in order to delay a possible claim, can you advise me on my best course of action?

You could speak with your GP regarding any attendances at A&E or with the GP (all Hospital attendances are recorded with the GP on your medical records) and ask for the dates of any relevant attendances and injuries treated. This would give you the dates and you could then seek to pursue a claim for compensation for any injuries sustained within the past 3 years that can be attributed to employer negligence.

i had an accident at work, reported it and had to fill out a statement, the company then looked at cctv and have told me there are inconsistency with my statement and cctv evidence. I believe at the time that my statement was an honest account of what happened but it all happened so quickly. Can i be disciplined for giving an incorrect statement?

We are not employment law experts and would therefore suggest that you should seek advice from a suitable specialist. However, if someone were to provide misleading and false reports regarding an accident at work it is likely to be seen as a disciplinary matter. However, if any inaccuracies in your report are simply due to shock or slightly incorrect recollection of events, I do not foresee you having any particular concerns.

Can a member of the public or safety professional ask to see an organisations accident book. I feel it should be a statutory requirement to be transparent in this regard but feel such a request could be benied

An employer or organisation would not have to release an accident book simply to the request of a member of the public. With regards to Data Protection requirements, such records are not suitable for public release.

I’ve been working a new job as a delivery driver for Sainsburys now for 11 weeks. After passing all the training and finally being able to do the job I applied for, within a few days I ended up seriously hurting my foot when getting out of the van. I struggled on with my duties and finished the day by limping everywhere. No mamager was present when I returned to store so I dropped my manager a text message explaining the injury. Consequently this lead to him putting me on sick leave despite my willingness to carry on working. This was unpaid and I returned to work when the pain was far more tolerable 1 week later. I asked if the injury had been documented in the injury book but I was told “did you put it in there”?. No, I don’t even know where it is I replied. Please can you put it in the book. A week or so later I asked again, to which his reply was “it’s too much hassle, we will have to do a full report & investigation etc.” Fine, I’m happy to do that I replied. Nothing more was said and nothing more has been done. I am now being put through a constructive dismissal.

Is there anything I can do to claim back time I lost out on etc? Or is this more a matter of the big guys stomp over the little person, because I’m still essentially on probation and have less rights.

You may have rights to make a claim for personal injury compensation against the employer – if you can identify an area of negligence that caused you to injure your foot whilst getting out of the works vehicle.

Did you report the incident within the Asda store when this incident occurred? If yes you could seek to pursue a claim against them for the injury and pain caused to you. As you can imagine, if this was not reported it will become far harder to make a claim for personal injury compensation as there is no supporting evidence available to demonstrate that your injury was sustained in Asda.

Of course, if this incident has only happened recently (in the past few weeks), you could still return to Asda and request that they make a report within their accident book regarding your injury.

If you would like to discuss this situation with us and find out more about making a claim and get the help you need, please call us on 01225430285.

I have tinnitus and I work for Ubereats. Whilst at work, a Manager at McDonalds shouted at me which permanently escalated my tinnitus which is now really tormenting me.

I requested that the Manager record this in accident book, but he said there was no book – he is lying. The McDonalds Manager refused to apologise to me or record this incident. Can I sue him or call the Police?

You have rightly identified a problem that any claim you may wish to make would face – providing evidence that this incident happened as you have stated. Whilst I do not doubt your version of events, you would have to provide proof to the courts should you want to succeed with a claim. Therefore, without supporting evidence of a witness and medical evidence that confirms that the shouting has caused a permanent escalation of the tinnitus condition, I don’t think you would succeed with a claim.

Hi Ian, my employer refuses to acknowledge my accident at work or report it in the accident book even with Xrays and doctors notes backing up my claim. They refused to investigate the slip at the time or come to see where the accident happened. What are my rights?

Do you have any witnesses to your accident at work? Or witnesses to you attempting to report the matter? If you have any electronic record (text message, email etc) of your reporting the incident to the employer, that would help you as it would provide important evidence to support any claim for accident at work compensation.

You could also contact the HSE to discuss the employers attitude towards your accident at work and see if they will investigate the matter.

With regards to your situation now, have you started a claim for accident at work compensation? Do you have a specialist Solicitor pursuing your claim for you? If you would like any help with this matter, please do not hesitate to make an online enquiry with us.

You should put a report of your accident in writing (by email) to the relevant people at work – and make mention of the fact that you had already reported it verbally to the employer and foreman.

We would be very happy to discuss your accident at work and help you better understand your rights with regards to a claim for accident at work compensation. Please call us on 01225430285 to take this further – or use our website to send us your contact number.

Hello. I recently had an accident/near miss at work about 1 week and a half ago. I have reported it to my contracts manager and made a statement with our employer. This was a coshh related incident involving a cleaning agent that got in to my eyes. I have still not received a signed copy of my statement as promised, my employer has objected to this accident claiming I just had water in my eyes. He has also not written his own statement of events. Our whole team walked off site in protest for the day as it has not been taken seriously. They have still not provided me with the accident book to fill out. I think I need some advice on how to handle the situation.

You have done the right thing so far in reporting the accident and providing a statement of facts with regards to what happened and how. Your employer does not have to provide a copy of the statement, but if they have promised the same then they should do so. Perhaps you could request one in writing?

With regards to your concerns about the employers attitude towards you and the incident, you could perhaps contact the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to seek some specialist advice from them on that particular issue.

Any employer requiring employees to work with or handle chemicals face strict obligations under the COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) regulations. COSHH regulations require employers to ensure that all chemicals are handled strictly, stored safely and that those working with them are provided with the correct personal protective equipment and training.

In your case, a cleaning agent getting in to the eyes can cause serious damage and would certainly cause distress and discomfort, so eye injury claims can lead to substantial settlement amounts. On face value, you may well have a valid claim to pursue against the employer for compensation and I would welcome the chance to discuss your rights and options with you directly. Perhaps you would like to email me directly (ian@direct2compensation.co.uk) with your contact details so that I can call you to discuss the incident in more detail and offer you some assistance going forward?

Hi i had an accident at work. It was a head injury as i was walking into work the guy in the gatehouse wasnt paying attention and dropped the crash barrier on my head. I was off for 3 weeks and asked if i can get a look at my accident report form but personel said i didnt need to as i already signed this so i must have seen it. Up until today i still have not seen this form or signed this. I have got a lawyer but he has said that because they have admitted liabilty i cannot do nothing about this. I am not happy with this at all because to me this is fraud and no one is entitled to sign this without my permission. Can you please give me advice on this?

It would be wise to find out who signed the form and when the report was made. Perhaps someone filled in a report when you were injured and given the nature of the head injury, perhaps you cannot – for totally understandable reasons – remember it being done.

If the defendant has admitted liability though, you need not worry too much as you will succeed with your claim.

Hi i didn’t know anything about an accident report form up until my brother told me to ask for it as i’d never had an accident at work b4. This was when i phoned up asking for it and was told i had already seen it even though i hadn’t. I know i’ve definitely not signed anything coz even though i got hit on the head with the crash barrier it didn’t knock me out which i was surprised at but i hadn’t been at work for 3 weeks due to headaches and dizziness. I know they hadn’t filled out a form straight away coz they asked my partner for my home address which was silly especially when personnel has my details in front of them. I know it was written out about 2 weeks after cause this is when i phoned up about it but the hr department was rude on the phone saying i wasn’t allowed to see it cause i had signed it, but i ended up arguing this case with her as i know i have never had any paperwork to sign from them. I just think this is disgusting that i have been refused to see it plus the fact that no one should be allowed to sign anything like this and as for a claim it’s not much as it was minor head injuries and nothing serious happened apart from my head being red and a bump on it which i still have but i am still fighting this as i have a lot of symptoms that i’ve never had before all of this.

It is important not to underestimate the severe impact that a head injury can have over a long term period. Given that you had 3 weeks off work due to dizziness and headaches, it certainly indicates that the injury was fairly serious. You should definitely make sure that all ongoing symptoms are reported to your GP and properly examined – and that they are included in the claim. Clients we have helped claim compensation after suffering head injuries from a blow to the head have reported upper back and neck pain, loss of balance, mood swings, fatigue, loss of appetite and many other symptoms.

Hi, I injured my shoulder at work by lifting a heavy bag. It wasn’t part of my duties however they asked me to help and I was happy to do it. I started feeling pain the next day and I’ve been off sick since then (2 weeks already). We were supposed to use a trolley for carrying those heavy bags however that trolley was broken.

I don’t think the incident has been recorded on the accident book.

Since my employer have not shown any sympathy or interest on my health – only wanting the sick notes from doctors, I’m thinking of claiming for compensation. I have spent money in medicines, private physio (still waiting for appointment with nhs physio) and more natural treatments.

The scenario you describe regarding the shoulder injury you sustained at work gives me an initial view that you have a valid claim for compensation. The employer is likely to be seen as negligent in this incident as the trolley that should be used for moving the heavy items was broken. As such, they should have either had it repaired, arranged for a replacement or postponed the moving of the heavy bags. By asking you to move the heavy items without providing you with the correct equipment to minimise the risk of injury, your employer is likely to have to admit liability should you make a claim.

We would like to hear from you so that we can help you make your claim for accident at work compensation.

I had an accident at work and suffered minor injuries (soft tissue) to my arm and wrist. I wasn’t able to work for 3 weeks as I had a splint on my hand, which I could remove only for hygienic purpose. I’ve been issued with a sick note from my GP, which was advised by the Hospital unit, where I’ve been treated at A&E.

On the day of accident (after I’d had the accident), I wrote what happened – in front of my team leader – a report of the accident on the form provided by my employer, however there wasn’t any column that I should sign.

I’m still on probation, with this job and was so worried about money, however I received a phone call to say that the company will pay me as a normal, so there is no loss of income. I’ve been asked via the phone by my line manager if I will make an injury compensation claim, which I found offensive. I answered that I wasn’t thinking yet about such a decision and that I just wanted to come back to work and see the accident report. Do I have a right to do so?

I’m concerned that the accident report isn’t correct as I did see that team leader (on the day of accident) was re-writing the report in the office but I didn’t see what he wrote as I had started to feel unwell and was just on the side with an ice pack resting and waiting for my shift to be over. The accident was not at my fault at all. Please advise what I should do. Thank you

You do have a right under UK law to pursue a claim for compensation against the employers insurance if you believe that the cause of your accident was not your fault. You have described a scenario in which it would appear that you were not responsible and having made a report and then seeking medical attention, you should certainly take this further.

Making a claim against your employer will not affect your right to continue with your job and your Line Manager has no right to ask you whether or not you are considering making a claim against them.

Good day , I’m lorry driver on 5th October 2018 I had accident at work place isn’t related employer fault but happen on employer premises. I’ve badly stepped on my left foot and broke 5th bone in foot. I went do AE where has been diagnosed full fracture of 5th foot bone. Next day I had off in my roster, 7th October 2018 I should work , shift start that day 17:45 a ring to transport reception on 9am and informed i’ve broke bone and will be not able for work next 8 weeks. Because I work for that company via agency next day 8th October 2018 I informed over the phone as well agency about my long term of sickness. Now few days ago I’ve asked company for signed copy of accident report for insurance proposal ( I’ve filed this for on accident day) they refused to sign this report claiming that I do not inform them… but I did, what I can do now ? They even didn’t report this accident to RIDDOR where bone fracture is reportable.

good day, my husband is a driver by occupation and on the 6th of september 2018 he had an accident coming down Van Rhynspass. he still doesnt have the use of his left arm and up to this moment his employers still hasnt reported his accident to COIDA. What should we do?

That could well be the policy of your employer regarding accident books. If it is a large company with numerous sites, it is likely that the accident book entries are collated and logged at one central location – such as Head Office. To that end, it is acceptable for the employer to ask you to write to the relevant person within the Head Office to request a copy of the report.

You mention that you have had an accident at work. With this in mind, you may well be entitled to make a claim for accident at work compensation against your employers liability insurance. If you can identify any negligence on the part of the employer, an external supplier or a colleague that lead to your injuries, you could well succeed with a claim. Why not contact us so that we can discuss the details of your accident with you and advise you as to whether or not you have a valid claim for accident at work compensation?

Good morning. I recently had and accident at work where I cut my head. I have asked my employer for a copy of my accident report and have been told that this report is the property of the company and although I can read it (I have already signed it) I cannot have a copy to take away with me. Is this correct?

Your employer is within their rights to deny you taking a copy of the accident book entry. However, they would not be able to refuse sight of a copy of the report to a Solicitor should an injured person go on to pursue a claim for compensation and their instructed Solicitor formally requests a copy.

It is good that you have seen and made a report in to the accident book.

My husband worked at a company for a long time making gates and rails. They did not have any accident books, risk assessments (when off site lifting and fitting) or provided with any manual handling equipment. He last worked for them 15 years ago, after leaving due to long periods of absence. Since then over the past 9 years he has been under the doctor and hospital for serious pain related illnesses. He has now had three back operations and we are fully aware that at least 4 other ex workers have also had operations on their back (2 of these have made claims against the company). Looking for advise.

Your Husband’s former employers appear to have been grossly negligent towards his and colleagues health and safety given the lack of risk assessments and training and equipment to work safely.

The issue that I have is the amount of time that has passed since the symptoms presented. As you may be aware, any injured person has a right to make a claim within 3 years of the date of an accident or the date at which they became aware of an injury. You mention that your Husband has been seeing a Doctor for 9 years or so and as such, I am concerned that he has exceeded his statutory claim limitation period of 3 years and may therefore be unable to do anything.

My employer (an agency) refuses to record the details of my accident in the accident book. They deny that I called on Monday to report the accident which was at the earliest convenience as I was in bed injured and couldn’t go within 15 days to the library to scan the Doctors note….

Can I get compensated? I have a refusal by email to register the accident in the accident book. My witness is my supervisor and all mates. No risk assessment, no safety, no pick up tool and the resulting RSI comes after the muscles cool down and I woke up next day in bed. I am ridiculed for my 4 month injury… I can’t record the accident. Because it’s “late”.

The agency doesn’t have offices in Leeds. I already have refusal from them after I gave them the fit notes by email, because it’s “late”. When I called they didn’t bother. Under the circumstances it was late anyway. While I was recovering in bed and didn’t need stress on my injury. I needed time to heal. The Health and safety executive was disappointing and the warehouse said they will call police if I call again. I thought it was just a little bit of normal stress on my back. When I left work it seemed alright. It was last day of work.

Given the lack of Health and Safety protocol within your workplace and the lack of risk assessment and correct procedure, you may well have a valid claim against the place where the agency placed you to work for the injuries you have sustained. Clearly, it would have been good if you had been able to record the injury immediately but you have explained clearly as to why that was not possible in this case.

I have been suffering from an RSI and was absent from work for 8 months as a result. 2 Occupational Health reports supported the diagnosis. My employer is threatening me with a warning when I suffered a work related injury and am injured for life. I have also found out that this matter was never reported under RIDDOR as requested by the Occupational Health. Have they broken the law?

Whether or not your employer has broken the law is somewhat irrelevant here – although if RIDDOR and the HSE are made aware of a failure to report a reportable incident, the employer could find themselves in hot water.

Given the condition affecting you, have you considered making a claim for RSI compensation? You could well succeed in this matter if it can be shown that your current and former employers have failed to adequately minimise the risk of you suffering with such a condition – such as adequate training, personal protective equipment, job rotations and regular breaks.

At Direct2Compensation, we have a genuine expertise in all matters relating to workplace injuries and RSI’s so it would be a good idea for you to contact us and we’ll be able to advise you as to whether you have a valid claim against your employer. If so, we would be very happy to assist you on a full No Win No Fee basis.

I had an accident at work but the manager was out and the rest of the staff told me they were not aware of there being an accident book. Is it a legal requirement to have one? I work at a pub with at least ten full and part-time staff.

The employer should have a system in place to enable the reporting of accidents. There doesn’t have to be an accident book as such, but a system of recording and reporting accidents should exist – whether that be in a book, by telephoning a certain person or by sending an email to the employer.

If your employer hasn’t enabled you to report your accident, our advice would be for you to write to or email the employer explaining what happened to you, when and where and what injuries you sustained.

My partner is a delivery driver for a furniture company. Towards the end of April 2018 he suffered a head injury at work. Whilst lifting the rear shutters of the work van a large wardrobe door fell and hit him on the right side of his head. The rope ties which held the furniture in place in the rear had snapped/ripped. He was bleeding, vomitting, dizziness and blurred vision, he was confused not realising where he is for 20 to 30 minutes. It was recorded in the Work Accident Incident Report Book on the same day by a Supervisor. Gradually the symptoms have returned and we have been to our GP and Hospital. Since April he has been taking paracetamol 4 to 5 times a day sometimes even more depending on the pain in his head. His performance at work has been affected to the point that for nearly 3 weeks he was not called into work. When he contacted his company they refused to acknowledge him. He went into work on Monday last week to speak with a manager who made it clear he has not been called into work due to his performance being terrible recently when he was working. He is in the top workers within the company and in the last 5 years never had a single complaint. My partner explained to the manager he doesnt know whats happening to him but the head injury has made him feel different. The manager now has started calling him into work. Today my partner asked to see the Accident Incident Report Book and to have a copy of the Incident Report. First they refused to show and give, then they gave the book but my partners incident has been ripped out of the book.

I dont know what to do, I am noticing so many changes in him and its all out of character and it has really become worrying. We have a doctors appointment booked and he is being referred for CT Head Scan.

The consequences of a head injury at work can be very serious, with behavioural changes commonly listed as one of the most difficult issues caused in such an incident.

It sounds as if your Partner needs expert advise and support of a specialist Solicitor in this matter and this is something we would be happy to help with. On face value, it seems that he would have a valid claim against his employer for workplace injury compensation and we would like to take this further for him.

If your partner wants to discuss his rights with us, he is free to liaise with us with no obligation and he may have concerns about claiming against his employer – something we are used to discussing with people who have been injured at work.

I injured my back at work by lifting flat packs ( furniture) and pushing washing machines around. Usuallly should be 2 people lifting if its too heavy but no one at work follows the manual handling/healthsafety regulations . Now i suffer of slip disc , trapped nerve and facet joint disease. On my shift I could feel a little click in my lower back but didn’t not take it serious. But on the next two days it gradually got worse and had to see my Dr. I been off 4 weeks and been send for MRI scan which my symptoms are stated already above. Now my question is i couldn’t come into work to report it but as my sister gone to hand in my skin notes she did report it to the manager but I do not believe that he did report about my injury. What can I do because I am really worried.

If your employer failed to provide you with adequate manual handling training or the correct equipment to lift and move items of weight safely, you would have a valid claim for accident at work compensation and we would be happy to help you start a claim with our specialist injury compensation Solicitors.

Your employer is clearly aware of your injury and absence from work but you are correct in that they may not have recorded the details of your injury correctly. In order to make sure that your employer is put on notice and has a proper record of the injury, you should put your own report to them in writing – by email or via recorded delivery (retain a copy for your own records) outlining what happened and how.

I asked him if he added it in the accident book. At first he was acting dumb and said if i believe it happened at work then we could do it. Then i emailed him about it if i could have a copy of my report. He said he wants a Dr’s letter because I can not take a report letter outside the company because is personal data protection and also by law I can not take it . So I am really confused by that.

I am a supervisor at a warehouse job . We have several department heads with the same supervisorial status . One of the supervisors from another department has had several incidents , forklift related , in the last month . There has been no action taken , as they are the supervisor/ operator . Yesterday , the supervisor was involved in an incident , leaving a temp. worker with 2 painfully injured fingers . I have had enough . I am hearing comments of discontent from the workers throughout the entire facility of this supervisor being allowed to carry on with no consequence . Is it my right to demand a copy of the accident report , as I wish to see if the person responsible has indeed taken responsibility . I fear that incidents like this are ‘swept under the carpet ‘ as the supervisor has a favoured status with the operations manager , who oversees us as a whole ?

In the UK, there is no right for employees to demand sight of an accident book record that does not relate to an incident in which they were not injured. In cases like the one you mention, it would be wise to ‘whistle blow’ and bring in an external regulatory authority to investigate the Health and Safety management in the workplace. In the UK, you could seek the services and advice of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and remind the employer of their obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act.

I fell in our work’s carpark and fractured my wrist, I am currently off work, I have asked management 3 times if they have put it in the accident book and at this time it hasn’t when I ask about it they keep dodging the subject, this happened on the 3rd of June, and 3 days later the carpark was closed off and getting re tarred, and it was a pothole that caused my accident. I am wondering why the management are not willing to tell me why it has not been put in the accident book.

It is frustrating to read that your employer will not let you view the accident book entry. Unfortunately, there is no obligation for an employer to disclose this to you – although most good employers have no issue with letting people see the accident book.

I would be happy to discuss your accident in greater detail so that you can better understand what options you may have with regards to taking further action.

Hi, I had an accident at work driving a FLT, I hit a pot hole which jarred my back and caused quite a lot of pain, I have asked my Employers for a copy of the Accident report, and they are refusing to give me a copy, can they do this, Thanks Steve.

There is no obligation for an employer to allow workers to view the contents of an accident book or an accident report form. Most employers are happy to allow workers access to a copy of accident books and allow them to view what has been noted following an accident at work.

In your situation, I can imagine that you are feeling frustrated by the attitude of the employer and given that they are refusing you access to the report, it is understandable that you may be questioning whether or not they are being honest in terms of what they have recorded. With this in mind, it may be wise to protect your interests and ensure that an honest report of the event and your injuries is on record. To this end, I would advise two things.

Firstly, I would take a photograph of the pothole that you hit whilst driving the forklift. This will protect your interests going forward if the area is repaired and the hazard removed. Second, I would email or write to your employer outlining that due to their refusal to allow you to see what has been recorded that you wish to put on record your version of events. You should state what happened and where and how you were injured. If the pothole was unmarked with no warning or sign, you should draw attention to that issue and also state how your injury is affecting you. You could also provide a photograph of the pothole in question to corroborate your report.

We have a number of identical claims in process at the moment and have succeeded with claims of the same cause many time previously. Indeed, we have recently succeeded with a claim for a client who was an FLT operator at a large haulage site and within the site there were two sections of yard that were at slightly different heights. The FLT operator had complained that to drop the couple of inches from one pad of concrete to the next was causing pain and also presented a health and safety risk, yet the employer ignored his concerns. He later sustained a slipped disc as a result of driving across the change in height of the two concrete pads and was left unable to work for a lengthy period.

We would be very happy to assist you further with regards to a claim for compensation for the injury you have sustained at work. Of course, you may not be minded to pursue a claim and that is fine. However, if you would like further advice or wish to discuss your situation further so that you better understand your rights and options with regards to a possible claim, please contact me.

I am a job coach and while doing my job fell on a bus. The bus took off before I could get a grip or sit down and I went flying. My manager was not in the office on my return and I spoke with my co-workers and explained what happened. One of them said I needed to fill in an incident report but had no idea where it was. I went home because I was feeling sick and contacted my Doctor. Even though I told her the accident happened at work she did not record it as worker injury and gave me an ordinary medical certificate. She gave me a few days off work for my injuries to heal. I rang my manager the very next day and told her what happened and the doctors treatment. She asked me to fax my medical certificate and I heard nothing after that until I returned to work the following week. I was told that the injuries were going to heal and it was up to me but did I just want to use my sick leave. I said OK because I did not want to cause any waves but then returned to the managers office and said to her, am I doing the right thing, maybe I should lodge a claim? She said, well its going to heal so there is no need, I am doing the right thing. I felt very uneasy about it. The pain did not go and I started to worry so I returned to my doctor and she said she was unaware that it was a work injury because she looked at my previous occupation which was a chef and when I said bus it didn’t register with her. They used all my sick leave and hours I accumulated in TIL for time off. I asked my manager to fill in an incident report and she said well if you didn’t file a claim then you shouldn’t fill in an incident report. Can you please advise me as I feel very uneasy. I rang HR and she said there is a very short window to file and that it was 2 weeks. It was about 3 weeks when I called her. She also said, that there was a lot of paper work involved. What can I do?

I would strongly recommend that you ensure that the employer has a proper record of your injury, how it happened and what you did immediately after and subsequently, regarding the injuries you have sustained. It would also be wise to point out to them that the injury is worse than initially thought and that your symptoms will last longer than your Doctors/Medical treatment provider had indicated.

If your employer says that the time elapsed between the injury and now means that they cannot record it in the normal way (via their incident reporting system), you should email your HR department, copying your line manager and make a full report of what happened in the incident and since then.

My brother in law had a nasty fall of a roof onto the scaffolding ! He fell on a drill and fractured two ribs. He since has been off work for a week to recover. His employer is refusing to log the incident in the accident book… He also refuses to provide him with a contract of employment. I find this unacceptable as an employer myself. Please advise what he should do legally. Thanks Sharon

Hi, I am very sorry to hear about your Brother-in-Law’s accident. His employer is breaching health and safety guidelines by refusing to record the details of the accident correctly.

I would suggest that the your Brother-in-Law writes to the employer (email or recorded delivery) to request that they record the details within an accident book or incident log and that in that letter/email, that he outlines what happened, what injuries he has sustained and note any obvious health and safety issues that lead to our could have prevented his accident.

We would be happy to help him pursue a claim for compensation against his employer. He may wish to have an informal chat with us first, if so, please ask him to call me on 01225430285 or email me: ian@direct2compensation.co.uk so that I can help him better understand his rights and what he can do.

I got injured at work slipped out off the step of my truck and hurt my knee, employer is refusing to sign a injury report and said not to tell the doctor when I go that it happened at work cause It will screw up their triff score? What are my legal rights here what can I do ?

In the UK, you have the right to require your employer to complete an accident report and also to inform your Doctor as to how the injury occurred. Your employers concerns are irrelevant in respect of your rights and best interests.

Whether or not you could hold the employer liable would depend on the training provided by your employer, whether there were any faults with the step or if the employer had failed to provide you with the correct equipment and clothing etc.

I had a fall 5 weeks ago on a wet floor. I have requested on many occasions that my accident be logged in the accident book and that I need a copy. I’m not getting anywhere with getting a copy of it. I have rang the company, sent a recorded letter and left many messages to be contacted. I’m getting ignored, what can I do?

You don’t need to worry too much about getting a copy of the accident book record, the key thing to do is to make sure that it has been recorded. You have done everything that anyone could reasonably expect you to do in terms of reporting your accident. Indeed, the fact that you have sent the company a letter by recorded delivery to ensure that the details of your accident are on record means that you can prove that the company has been made aware of your accident.

At Direct2Compensation we have a great track record of pursuing injury compensation claims after accidents involving slipping on a wet floor and we would very much like the chance to discuss your accident and injury circumstances with you as we may well be able to help you pursue a claim for injury compensation. Please call us on 01225430285 so that we can discuss your situation and offer the help and support you need.

I was injured at work, I work on a farm and was made to wear wellies with no tread which resulted in me rupturing my acl ligament and damaged cartilage….. it was reported into the accident book but that as now been removed from the work premises no were to be seen, I’m going for surgery soon and may need more in the furture, im only guaranteed 70% use in my knee, can I claim?

I had an accident at work but could not go into work to fill out the accident report. i rang my manager to tell her the details over the phone which she said would be filled out on daytex. I keep asking for a copy but have still not got one it has been 6 months now, how do I get a copy, because I will need to make a claim sometime soon.

Hi, I can appreciate that the lack of provision of a copy of the incident report has been frustrating you. However, with regards to making a claim for compensation after an accident at work, it is not vital that you personally have a copy of the accident book/incident record as our specialist solicitors will be able to obtain this during the processing of your claim. The most important thing is that there is an accident record in existence and it sounds as if there is in your case.

You could contact your HR department and request confirmation that such a record was made by your Manager. If they confirm that there was, you needn’t worry further and we could make arrangements to start your claim for injury compensation as soon as you are ready. If your employers HR department indicate that there was no record made, you should immediately start a grievance process with them outlining what your Manager had said to you and you should request that an accident record is made immediately (during which you should ensure that it is accurate and reflects the cause of the accident, the injuries and witness information).

You mention needing to make a claim sometime soon. With this in mind, you should be aware that you have a period of 3-years from the date of your accident in which you can pursue a claim for compensation. Failure to pursue your claim before the 3rd anniversary of your accident will leave you statute barred and unable to take any action. Whilst you are probably well within your 3-year period, it is always a good idea to avoid delays in making your claim.

I hope that this information is of use to you and I hope that we can help you further with a claim for compensation.

Whether or not your employer will allow you/employees access to view copies or make entries in to accident books depends on the policies employed by that company.

All employers should keep records relating to workplace accidents and the most common way of doing so is via an accident book or incident reporting system. In many cases, the individual involved in an accident will not be the person who records the details as it is commonplace for a member of Management of HR staff who will make an entry based on statements from the person injured and those who witnessed the accident.

In your case, it sounds like an incident/accident book entry has been made and you are simply requesting a copy of this record or the right to view what information is contained within the report. If your employer is refusing you access to this, you need to find out if this is the company policy or if it is just that your individual Manager is refusing you access to the record. You should contact your HR department and ask to see a copy of the policy relating to accident book records and your access to them.

If you are not being allowed access to view the record, this could well be a breach of your personal information. Employers are governed Data Protection regulations and it could be that the information they have on record relating to an incident in which you were injured is incorrect. If you are not allowed to view this and have it corrected, they have breached your privacy rights. In this case, you could consider contacting the Information Commissioners Office to request assistance and make a complaint.

It is not always the case that employers will allow staff members to have a copy of an accident book entry, but they should be allowing you to view the same.

When it comes to claiming personal injury compensation after an accident at work, you do not need to personally have a copy of an accident book entry. The important thing is that an entry or record has been made. Most of our accident at work compensation claimants do not have a copy of their accident book entry, but when our specialist solicitors contact our claimants employers, they are able to provide the relevant proof of authority to obtain a copy for the claimant.

My employers are refusing to let me see my recorded entry into the accident book from 2014 after having 2 major operations after the incident and not being allowed back to my contracted duties and after receiving a 100% Bill of health from my specialist and occupational health doctor at work, being put on a redeployment scheme and having till January 2017 to seek another post or I’m dismissed I find this suspicious.

This does sound a little ‘fishy’ and I would have thought that your employer would disclose a copy of their accident book entry to you. Have you had a Solicitor acting for you? In cases where employers refuse an employee the right to view or see what their accident record says, we often find that when a solicitor takes over the running of the claim and makes a formal request for disclosure of an accident record, that one suddenly materialises.

If you would like our assistance with this matter, or think that we may be able to help further, please call us on 01225430285 or fill in a contact enquiry form on our make a claim page and we’ll be in touch to see how we can assist.

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188 questions on this article

You are a STAR!!!! Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help and assistance. It was very difficult knowing what to search for online but you have been amazing.

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Miss. R. W

After suffering from a slip resulting in a broken leg, having never been in this situation, I was confused, anxious and not sure what I should do with regards to claiming compensation for loss of earnings. The internet is a minefield of varying advise and companies all offering their services and a lot was jargon and unclear. The wording and explanations on the site given by Ian Morris was clear, concise and in plain English. I requested a call back and Ian promptly called me to discuss my case. He was patient and knowledgeable and I felt comfortable talking to him, feeling that he understood my concerns. I would thoroughly recommend anyone who needs to make a personal injury claim to talk to Ian Morris to help point them in the right direction in order to move forward to making a claim.

EL, Surrey

Clear, concise and helpful support – thoroughly recommended!

Using direct2compensation felt right from the beginning, right from the first contact, I received quick informative and helpful advice and was directed to an excellent solicitor best suited for my claim. Although my claim is yet to be settled the process has been easier than I initially thought, my direct contact Ian has kept me informed, and followed up contact to make sure if I have any questions or queries he will happily help if he can. Overall a pleasant experience would highly recommend this service.”